“Moorea Hoffman, a San Clemente, Calif., kitchen designer and quilter who helps clients plan their studios, suggests asking these questions:

— How much work will be done sitting or standing? Table height needs to match the work. For those who need to stand at a table, for example, as with painting or cutting fabric, the tabletop needs to line up with the crafter’s hip bone, Hoffman says, for optimal strength and agility.

— How messy will you get? Do you need a wet station and an area that’s kept dry? Quilters like to keep their work area clean, while painters need somewhere to clean up.

— Is there natural light? Can you control the lighting? Have as bright a light as you can find, but put it on a dimmer switch. Task lighting, such as a table lamp on a swivel arm, also is helpful.

— Do your floors support – or hurt – you? Artists enjoy cleanable floors, such as tile and concrete, but these surfaces are hard on knees and backs. Think vinyl tiles. They come in patterns, some that resemble hardwood flooring, or carpet. If you already have a hard surface, use a gel kitchen mat at your primary workstation.”

Designer’s Note:I’d like to add a few suggestions. Think about using kitchen cabinets in your studio space. They are the perfect height for standing work (for obvious reasons) and are available in lots of different configurations. Ikea has very affordable kitchen cabinets that can be converted to craft space storage with the simple addition of a top and casters for mobility.

One thing I have learned as a crafter is to invest in quality storage. When I first arranged my home craft studio, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on storage. Since it was “just a hobby” I didn’t think it a worthwhile investment. Besides, who wants to spend money on storage when it can buy fabric or pretty papers? So I would buy a cheap storage cabinet, say $50. And six months later it would break or I would realize it wasn’t working the way I wanted so I would spend another $50 on another inadequate solution. And six months after that . . . this went on for years until I finally realized I deserved a work space with not just enough storage but accessible storage. If crafting gives you pleasure, you deserve a space that enhances that pleasure by making art easier and more fun to create. I wish I’d spent more in the beginning – I would have saved in the long run.